Community Health and Development
This concentration is for students interested in building healthy and well-functioning communities. Students may apply their learning in fields such as public health, public policy, law, rehabilitation, psychology, social welfare, and medicine. They may also do so through public service such as Teach for America or Peace Corps. This concentration provides opportunities to learn and make a difference with important community problems and goals (e.g., childhood obesity, substance abuse, violence, education, child and youth development, independent living of people with disabilities, well-being of older adults).
Coursework and practicum experiences focus on (a) intervention methods used to address community problems and goals (e.g., strategic planning, intervention, advocacy) and (b) research methods used to study the effects of community initiatives for health and development (e.g., community assessment, evaluation). The course sequence culminates in a two-semester practicum arranged with faculty members and representatives of community organizations or governmental agencies (e.g., in public health, child advocacy, independent living, youth development, community development).
Faculty Member
Professors Jomella Watson-Thompson
RELATED WEBSITES
Community Tool Box
American Psychological Association
Division 27: Society for Community Research and Action: Division of Community Psychology
www.apa.org/about/division/div27.html